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News & ArtsFriday, December 18, 2009
City / History Bummer: Fun Forest Gets Cut Down
Posted by Grant Brissey on Fri, Dec 18, 2009 at 4:48 PM
I didn't notice this article yesterday, but this is a bummer. Not that I've ridden those rides in years, but this still makes me a little sad and nostalgic. No more Log Ride!
The Fun Forest's big rides are being sold, dismantled and shipped off. The south part of Fun Forest, including the pavilion with the bumper cars and kiddieland, will remain open through Labor Day 2010.A remnant of the 1962 World's Fair, the Fun Forest is a victim of declining revenue and a changing vision for Seattle Center. Steve Robertson, whose family owns the park, says he's sold five of the big rides and has offers for the remaining two. With names like Wild River, Orbiter and Tornado, expect the rides to pop up at carnivals and fairs in California, Texas and the Midwest — and, if Robertson pulls off one deal, as far as Argentina.
h/t: Thomas Gray and seattletimes.nwsource.com
5
This makes me very sad. Seattle's transformation into Generictown USA continues apace.
Fun fact: when it opened, during the Fair, it was called the Gayway.
Fun fact: when it opened, during the Fair, it was called the Gayway.
7
This absolutely sucks! It's part of what makes Seattle Center cool and unique. Love the log ride and ferris wheel. Is there any movement to keep it there?
@5 has it right, "Generictown" indeed...
@5 has it right, "Generictown" indeed...
9
The only thing I kinda liked about the Fun Forest (in recent years) was watching that lone, empty log riding up and down its sad little flume.
10
That compact little coaster they have there is a genuine thrill. Packs a punch for its small size and short duration.
13
We did a farewell tour of rides over the summer. The log ride was empty for a good reason. I was clinging to the sides for dear life.
18
The last time I rode any of the Fun Forest rides was after the homecoming dance in 1998, we rode them all while killing time before Laser Dark Side, and we did it all in his tux and my ball gown. Farewell, Fun Forest. You were a lovely high school memory.
19
IA with Josh, what is Seattle without the ferris wheel? Especially when nested in the middle of the city with easily distracted operators who don't care you're smoking a joint and (more discreetly) drinking a Stone 40 while in rotation at the end of night.
The demure roller coaster was a ton of fun and you felt as if you were on the brink of death every moment. Not so much from the speed or the loops (which were thrilling) but because of the rust spots and unease you felt from the wobbly pillars and the violently shaking .. everything.
I've lived in Seattle off and on but whenever I was in the Center's neck of the woods I took a spin on one or the other.
R.I.P Fun Forrest, you hold many a memory.
The demure roller coaster was a ton of fun and you felt as if you were on the brink of death every moment. Not so much from the speed or the loops (which were thrilling) but because of the rust spots and unease you felt from the wobbly pillars and the violently shaking .. everything.
I've lived in Seattle off and on but whenever I was in the Center's neck of the woods I took a spin on one or the other.
R.I.P Fun Forrest, you hold many a memory.
20
That's one thing I love about Denver...Lakeside amusement park...been there since 1908, and it has a roller coaster that's celebrating its 70th anniversary next summer. The whole place has a cool art deco feel inside (after you pass under the 100 year old tower to get in) and admission is just $2.50 with unlimited rides just $17 after that...really perfect late on a Saturday night in the summertime...
21
My family album has pictures of my brother enjoying the "Fun Forest" with fiendish glee circa 1969.
Where will tomorrow's find their joy of fiendish glee. Won't anyone think about the children?
Where will tomorrow's find their joy of fiendish glee. Won't anyone think about the children?
22
I found the article infuriating. It mentioned all these things I wanted to know more about, such as "changing vision for Seattle Center" and "Steve Robertson, whose family owns the park" but then totally fails to elaborate.
And then I find out that the entire article is only two paragraphs long, and it's on the top fold of the front page! God damn it, if you want people to read your fucking awful newspaper, you better actually start writing things so people people will want to read it! I've spent six dollars for a Sunday NY Times on the strength of one article.
And then I find out that the entire article is only two paragraphs long, and it's on the top fold of the front page! God damn it, if you want people to read your fucking awful newspaper, you better actually start writing things so people people will want to read it! I've spent six dollars for a Sunday NY Times on the strength of one article.
23
I suppose if I had grown up here, I'd have an attachment to the Fun Forest. But I didn't and, while I have no problem with the concept of rides at Seattle Center, I've always thought the Fun Forest was pretty lame for an amusement park -- like giffy/6 said, a blight on the Center -- so I'm not going to miss it at all.
25
Meh, they hacked it up pretty good in the 90s when they got rid of the good rides...
Remember the gravitron, flight to mars, the one where you sit in cages and get motion sickness (I wanna call that the Enterprise, not sure..) and the one with really loud pop music that went in a wavy circle.. etc?
what was left? the log ride? the 31 second rollercoaster? LOTS of blacktop and some kiddie rides... the concrete jungle express. It's no fun and it should have been axed a long time ago.
Remember the gravitron, flight to mars, the one where you sit in cages and get motion sickness (I wanna call that the Enterprise, not sure..) and the one with really loud pop music that went in a wavy circle.. etc?
what was left? the log ride? the 31 second rollercoaster? LOTS of blacktop and some kiddie rides... the concrete jungle express. It's no fun and it should have been axed a long time ago.
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